It's Not What You Expect

[Emoticon]

--Past--
Aradia stepped on the muddy ground, concealed in her mother and fathers dam. She was a couple months old, and almost ready to leave. She dragged her tail towards the edge, hesitating. This was her home, her place. Her mother, Hela pushed her forward with her tail. "You can do this Aradia, You must. Never come to this place, and find a mate of your own." She, her gentle voice soothing Aradia. She took a deep breath, her reddish brown fur gleaming. She plunged to the water, opening her eyes to the light of spring. She swam up to take a breath, and look at her parents dam. Never again. She thought, and patted her tail down, sending her in the water. She heard several other beavers, since this was prime housing. She saw several other beavers, but the males didn't take notice of her. She forced her head to move down the side as she swam fast in the water, the murky depths around her. Minutes later she came up for air, seeing a place totally new to her. Reality hit her as she looked around her surroundings, knowing that the time against the clock had begun. She had to find a mate, build a den, and store enough food before winter. Many of the beavers wouldn't survive, and she knew that she could be one of them.

--Early Spring--
She opened her eyes, a light piercing at the top of her. She patted her coat, and licked it clean and until it shined. She still hadn't found a mate, or a place to even start a dam. She was scared, but she put it aside. She walked up the step path, knowing that it was natural and she had just found it when she was digging. She felt water under her feet as she swam in it, using something another beaver had used. She swam up the path and reached a patch of trees, looking around. There were other beavers, but if she stayed quite she might be able to get some wood to start building. She started chipping wood off a medium sized trunk, her teeth finally being put to good use. She enjoyed the bark and she head a crack. She saw the tree move, and ducked for cover as the tall tree fell down. She gained her breath, hoping none other beavers would take notice. She held on the trunk as she used the little path to the woods, and put the wood not far from the lane, on the other side. She knew it was going to get rough, but hopefully she would have a mate by then.

--Mid Spring(present)--
She woke up once more, muscles aching. It had been only a few months since she started to build her dam, and only a few male beavers came to pass by, none even looking at her or her dam. She climbed the steep path once again into the spring light, knowing that she only had a few months to complete her dam. She took the water route once more, seeing that she had woken up early, early enough to be the first one. She decided to go for a big tree, knowing that she might be able to finish work on some other beavers job. She started to chew on it, the wood getting thinner and thinner by the minute. She then heard a crack, and she ran for cover as the big tree fell, echoing a loud boom throughout the forest. She looked all around. She made a dash for the tree, and went the fastest she could. She felt the cold, fresh water as her paws swam through it. She plunged into the darkness of the water as she swam across to her dam, putting the final piece of wood she'll need, for now. She stacked it up and swam by the look at it, seeing a heap of twigs and branches. She took a deep breath and swam towards the bottom of the water, collecting as much mud in her mouth as she could. She swam up the the surface with her cheeks stuffed with it. She had also grabbed some with her paws, and spread it out. She went out many more times, until a pile of mud became stuffed up and the dam feeling more stable, but the inside still needed to be covered with mud. She took a break and went to get some wood, where she stored a few sticks that she could under her dam for the harsh winter months. She did the mud again and again, till she was exhausted. She felt secure and safe, eating the greens on the branch. She slowly closed her eyes and fell asleep.

She woke up late the next mourning, her muscles better. She went outside, the cold water soaking her fur. She swam out from her den to take a look at it, and noticed that it needed some repairs. She went out and covered the wood with clumps of mud, picked from last night. She patted it on, fixing the dam. She saw some beavers passing by, and she decided she needed a break, it was only early spring. But her Dam was small, to small for her offspring. She ignored the feeling, and started floating in the river. All of a sudden she heard a loud smack, a tail hitting the water. She quickly returned the message, a loud smack echoing thorough the forest. She looked around and saw a bear in front of her, if she hadn't head it the bear could have snatched her. Instinct took over as she sped through the water, heading up to her dam. Once she was in the safety of it, she laid down and enjoyed some greens she had collected. She stretched out, taking a long nap after she stuffed herself.